"Fourth Auntie Zhang, what’s wrong with you, is it serious?" Lady Zhao hurried to the edge of the kang bed and asked with concern.

Lady Zhang had been leaning against the pillow, but upon seeing Lady Zhao, she felt a bit embarrassed and quickly sat up.

"Third Sister-in-law, I’m fine, just felt a little... a bit uncomfortable when I got up... I’m about to join you in cooking," Lady Zhang said as she tried to get off the kang.

Lady Zhao quickly stopped her.

"Don’t get up, lie back down," Lady Zhao said, "I heard from your fourth uncle and couldn’t rest easy, so I rushed over to check on you... Mother had just woken up, so I didn’t let your fourth uncle go and tell Mother. It’s just a bit of work, Yeye and I can take care of what’s yours, if Mom doesn’t ask, we don’t have to say anything..."

Lady Zhao intended to do Lady Zhang’s work without alarming Lady Zhou, to keep her from nagging.

Lady Zhang understood Lady Zhao’s kindness and was very grateful in her heart.

"How can that be ok, I really haven’t got much wrong with me."

"Don’t be like that with me, I’m not going to say anything, who are we to each other? I can’t help with other things, but I can still do this much," Lady Zhao said earnestly.

"Thank you so much, Third Mother-in-law," Lian Manman quickly said.

Lady Zhao nodded and smiled at Lian Manman. It was rare for Lady Zhao to lift her head all year round, and when she occasionally did, there was often a look of worry on her face. Even her smiles were mostly to appease Lady Zhou. Yet, this smile was genuine and relaxed. By the faint candlelight, Lian Manman realized for the first time that Lady Zhao was actually very beautiful when she truly smiled.

Lady Zhang did not follow Lady Zhou’s orders to prepare breakfast, but after it was cooked, their family still went to eat in the Upper Room. It was unclear whether Lady Zhou hadn’t noticed or had other considerations, but she merely glanced a few extra times at Lady Zhang and did not scold her.

Just after they had eaten, when the sky was still dimly lit, the Song Family’s bridal procession arrived, and the Lian Family was already prepared to send off Lian Huahua on the carriage. Although it was early, many villagers got up early to watch the excitement. The children were especially lively and followed the Song Family’s procession out of the village before running back.

The crowd didn’t disperse right away, standing around in groups to discuss how rich and respectable the Song Family was.

"...Fourth Sister-in-law Zhang, why didn’t you go with them?" A nosy woman came up to Lady Zhang to ask.

"His uncle’s family all went, along with his second uncle and Huahua’s grandmother’s family. There’s no need for us older folks," Lady Zhang said with a smile.

"Others might not need to go, but Fourth Sister-in-law Zhang, you should... Isn’t it you who was invited as Quanfuren for Huahua’s wedding?" the woman asked with wide eyes.

"There are plenty of Quanfurens around, it’s not just me," Lady Zhang replied, still smiling, but Lian Manman could see it was forced.

"Which of your Huahua’s Quanfurens did you invite?" another woman asked Lady He.

Lady He glanced at Lady Zhang, "Didn’t you see both of Huahua’s maternal aunts went? If not her eldest maternal aunt, then her second."

"Oh my, oh my, when it comes to your family affairs, others shouldn’t comment much. But this matter, it’s not quite right. In terms of relation, how could a maternal aunt be closer than an aunt-in-law? And as for Quanfu, Fourth Sister-in-law Zhang holds the highest place in our village. With parents, siblings, nephews, and nieces on one side, and in-laws, children for both sons and daughters on the other, Huahua’s uncles’ family couldn’t have it this complete..."

"Of course it’s because those people are more suitable," Lady Zhang laughed, "It’s no big deal to me. If they asked me to go, I’d be happy to, and if not, well, that’s also fine, no big deal."

Back in her room, Lady Zhang sat on the kang. Lian Manman glanced at her furtively and could tell that Lady Zhang’s displeasure hadn’t subsided yet.

Lian Shouxin came back inside.

"Look, don’t worry about that matter," Lian Shouxin awkwardly started, sitting on the edge of the kang.

"What are you talking about, why would I be worried?" Lady Zhang retorted sharply as she turned around.

Lian Shouxin and Lady Zhang about to argue! That was rare and tempting to watch. But it might be better to stay away.

Lian Manman made a sign to Lian Zhizhi, Wu Lang, and Xiao Qi, and they quietly left the room.

"Mom is angry," Lian Manman murmured as she kicked a small stone before her.

"Sister Huahua is getting married, and Big Uncle’s wife didn’t invite Mom to be Quanfuren. Mom doesn’t like that," Lian Zhizhi whispered, "Mom had her clothes all prepared. She said we are one family, Huahua is getting married, we should save face and not mention past matters."

It turned out that Lady Zhang had been uncomfortable since last night because of this. When Lady He asked Lady Gu who was invited as Quanfuren, and Lady Gu didn’t respond, Lady Zhang understood it wasn’t her. She must have had a sleepless night. As the woman earlier said, being Quanfuren for Huahua’s wedding was undoubtedly Lady Zhang’s role. Lady Zhang was someone who cared about face, and Lady Gu skipping over her to invite her own sisters-in-law, with Lady Zhou also not objecting, must have hurt Lady Zhang. Otherwise, given her temperament, she would have forced herself to go to the Upper Room to cook this morning, even if she were ill. 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝒆𝒘𝙚𝓫𝙣𝙤𝒗𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

Lady Zhang’s heartache and anger weren’t just about losing face. Judging from what she said to Lian Zhizhi, she might have seen this event as an opportunity to completely reconcile with the Upper Room, but Lady Gu obviously didn’t see it that way at all.

After all, even a clay figure has three points of fire; Lady Zhang must have been truly annoyed.

Lian Manman rested her chin in her hands. Lady Zhang was a very virtuous woman, often unwilling to quibble over many things, yet this issue about being the Quanfuren had upset her. She didn’t just refrain from cooking in the Upper Room, she even lost her temper with Lian Shouxin.

Indeed, Lian Manman chuckled inwardly; this version of Lady Zhang seemed more endearing and lovable to her than the one who was wholly virtuous and good.

And what about Lady Zhou? She hadn’t made a scene today. Could she have guessed what Lady Zhang was thinking?

While Lian Manman was pondering, she heard someone shout from outside the courtyard gate, "Is this where the Shouxin Family lives?" (To be continued. If you like this work, please head to qidian.com to cast your vote for recommendation, and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation.)